Submissions are now open for the 2018 Iris Prize Festival

Could you be the next Dee Rees - the inaugural winner of the Iris Prize in 2007, who is tipped for Oscar recognition?

Organisers of the Iris Prize have confirmed that the £30,000 Iris Prize, awarded to the best LGBT short film, continues to be the world’s largest short film prize, thanks to the generous support of The Michael Bishop Foundation.

Andrew Pierce, Iris Prize Chair, commented:“This is always an exciting period for us at Iris HQ - that time of year when we realise we are still able to offer a prize fund of £50,000 to invest in new LGBT film talent. Thanks to the generous support of The Michael Bishop Foundation, the Iris Prize continues to be the largest and only LGBT short film prize in the world which allows the winner to make a new film.”

“Thanks also to Pinewood Studios Group we are for the fourth year running able to support British film makers directly with a prize valued at £20,000 - sound post production on their next short film project. Iris is more than just a trophy that gathers dust or a certificate that yellows on the wall. Iris is what film makers need – funding, support and guidance.”

“This year we will be visiting locations across the UK to encourage more local submissions and to encourage more people to join us in Cardiff for our annual celebration of LGBT film.”

The inaugural winner of the Iris Prize in 2007 was Dee Rees who is tipped for Oscar glory later this year with Mudbound. After winning the top prize at Iris, Rees travelled to Wales to make Colonial Gods, a drama set in an immigrant community in Butetown, Cardiff.

Details of the Iris Prize programme of international events for 2018/19, to reach out to film makers and LGBT film fans across the world, will be announced at the end of the month.

Submissions are now open for the 2018 Iris Prize Festival. The Cardiff (UK) based festival, which takes place from 9th – 14th October 2018, presents three main awards:

Iris Prize - Cardiff's International LGBT short film prize supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation

Iris Prize Best British Short sponsored by Pinewood Studios Group

Iris Prize Best Feature Award

Nine short films have been produced to date by the Iris Prize with award winning filmmakers from across the world.

The main festival sponsors are: The Michael Bishop Foundation, Welsh Government, BFI, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Pinewood Studios Group, Cardiff University, For Cardiff, Gorilla Group, Co-op Respect and Cineworld. The festival also works in partnership with BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru and Stonewall Cymru. Iris on the Move is also funded by Film Hub Wales.